A NEW management team has designs on taking Salford marketing agency Walsh Simmons into the future. Retiring founding partners Steve Walsh and John Simmons have sold the Chapel Street business to Justine Wright and Dave Kirkwood, who have both played a major part in developing the 18-year-old outfit.

The new managing partners - who also played a key role in the development of Mr Walsh's multi-million pound www.laterooms.com business - will continue to trade under the Walsh Simmons name.

Ms Wright, 35, has worked with Walsh Simmons for 10 years and joined originally as an account director.

A marketeer by trade, she is now a 50-50 shareholder of the business with Mr Kirkwood, 42, who has been with the company for seven years and looks after the creative side of the business. Ms Wright, who did not wish to disclose how much was paid for the business, said: "We didn't get anything out of the Laterooms deal and it was always an understanding that passing the business to us was Steve's way of saying thanks for staying here.

"We could easily have moved on but the chance one day to own the Walsh Simmons brand was an attractive reason to stay.

"We don't want to become millionaires, just to make a comfortable living, to look after our staff as best we can and to enjoy what we do. We both have families and children, so it is important that this works for us."

Walsh Simmons concentrates mainly on design and print work as well as the development of concepts aimed at motivating staff and boosting brand awareness.

The business is already recruiting a further senior creative to free Mr Kirkwood to get more involved in the management and pitching process.

The pair say that their influence is already reaping rewards, with new account wins flooding in. This has been supported by two recent additions to the marketing team.

Sarah Davies has joined as client liaison manager and has six years' experience in sales, marketing and client relations, gained in the UK, New Zealand and Australia.